Jackson was third in the NFL in tackles with 59 and finished first in the league with 2008 with 154. Of course, playing on the Browns gives linebackers plenty of chances to pad numbers because teams are always running on them.

The Redskins desperately need help at offensive tackle, so they picked up the biggest name available Tuesday.

The team announced that they signed Levi Jones, formerly of the Bengals.

Jones once had Pro Bowl-caliber talent and received a contract extension from Cincinnati with $16.3 million in 2006, but knee and back injuries slowly wore him down. He worked out for the Lions and Packers recently; both teams passed.

To clear roster room, the Redskins released two running backs: Anthony Alridge and Marcus Mason. They also signed running back Quinton Ganther, formerly of the Titans.

Redskins left tackle Chris Samuels won't return to help Washington's struggling offensive line this year or next.

Jason Reid of the Washington Post reports that Samuels will retire because of the neck injury he suffered two weeks ago.

Samuels was expected to visit a specialist this week, and clearly the news wasn't good. Washington's line was already struggling with Samuels, and both tackle spots will be weaned with Stephon Heyer permanently moving to the left side.

New addition Levi Jones could eventually work his way into the starting lineup.

Samuels was drafted third by the Redskins in 2000, and only missed eight starts before this season, with four of the missed games coming in 2008. He made the Pro Bowl six times.

Redskins left tackle Chris Samuels won't return to help Washington's struggling offensive line this year or next.

Jason Reid of the Washington Post reports that Samuels will retire because of the neck injury he suffered two weeks ago.

Samuels was expected to visit a specialist this week, and clearly the news wasn't good. Washington's line was already struggling with Samuels, and both tackle spots will be weaned with Stephon Heyer permanently moving to the left side.

New addition Levi Jones could eventually work his way into the starting lineup.

Samuels was drafted third by the Redskins in 2000, and only missed eight starts before this season, with four of the missed games coming in 2008. He made the Pro Bowl six times.

Wow, maybe it was bad news, or maybe he lost the fire to play football(for th Redskins).

The nightmare season for Washington's offense just got a lot worse. X-rays on tight end Chris Cooley's ankle during Monday night's loss revealed a break.

"He's got a break in his ankle," coach Jim Zorn said after the game. "It's on the inner side of his tibia. I haven't seen the X-rays yet, but we're quite certain it's broke or fractured in some way. He'll be out for a while. I don't know that it's a season-ending injury yet. I can't say that."

Rick Maese of the Washington Post tweeted that Cooley is likely to miss the season, but that's not confirmed yet.

Second-year pro Fred Davis will likely take Cooley's spot on the field. Davis struggles to block, but caught seven passes for 78 yards and a score Monday, albeit mostly in garbage time.

Hoping to make a statement to protest the NFL team's abysmal record -- this season and since the team returned in 1999 -- some Browns backers are encouraging fans to walk in late to the Nov. 16 home game against Baltimore.

Two longtime season-ticket holders came up with the idea after last Sunday's 31-3 loss to Green Bay.

They are hoping the temporarily empty seats for a nationally televised Monday night game will send a message to owner Randy Lerner that they want a better product on the field.

The nightmare season for Washington's offense just got a lot worse. X-rays on tight end Chris Cooley's ankle during Monday night's loss revealed a break.

"He's got a break in his ankle," coach Jim Zorn said after the game. "It's on the inner side of his tibia. I haven't seen the X-rays yet, but we're quite certain it's broke or fractured in some way. He'll be out for a while. I don't know that it's a season-ending injury yet. I can't say that."

Rick Maese of the Washington Post tweeted that Cooley is likely to miss the season, but that's not confirmed yet.

Second-year pro Fred Davis will likely take Cooley's spot on the field. Davis struggles to block, but caught seven passes for 78 yards and a score Monday, albeit mostly in garbage time.

Many of you have asked us whether, upon the conclusion of his two-week suspension, the Chiefs will tell running back Larry Johnson to take the rest of the year off, with pay.

The Chiefs might prefer to do that, but they can't.

The Eagles' decision to suspend receiver Terrell Owens without pay for four games in 2005 followed by a paid suspension for the balance of the year caused the NFLPA to slip through the owners' collective five hole a CBA term prohibiting such measures moving forward.

So, as of March 2006, a team can suspend a player without pay for up to four games at a time for conduct detrimental to the team. But a team cannot suspend a player with pay.

Of course, if the player agrees to go home with pay, it's not an issue. But since Johnson is a vested veteran, he'd get the balance of his $4.55 million salary if he's released. He'd then be able to climb aboard the bandwagon of a playoff contender with a record far better than 1-6, and he'd be able to collect a salary from his new team -- and to keep the full amount of his termination pay from the Chiefs.

As a result, look for the Chiefs to try to find a way to keep Johnson, but possibly to marginalize him. And if he chooses to be disruptive in the hopes of getting cut, they'll probably suspend him again.

At the end of the day, the Chiefs would at worst be required to pay Johnson if they lose the inevitable grievances. But if they cut him, they'll pay him, too. So why not come up with a way to pay him and keep him from getting to the playoffs -- and possibly winning a Super Bowl -- with a team that would be able to provide him with the kind of blocking that would allow Johnson to make good use of the remaining tread on his tires?

The possibility that Johnson decided to act up now in the hopes of getting cut will likely make the Chiefs even less inclined to give L.J. his way. The only question is whether and to what extent the Chiefs are willing to tolerate the distraction.

Since there's no concern that any distraction will keep them from qualifying for the postseason, look for the Chiefs to dig in their heels, if necessary.

The team placed Heath Evans on injured reserve Thursday because of a torn ACL suffered Sunday against the Dolphins. Evans was doing a nice job as a blocker and occasional receiver. He'll be replaced by Kyle Eckel, a Navy product who has played with the Dolphins, Patriots, and Eagles.

New Orleans' third-ranked running attack should survive without Evans. Mike Bell has been running with abandon as the team's "closer," often resting in the first half and taking over for Pierre Thomas down the stretch.

The Saints proved last week they can come from behind, but the team's three-pronged running attack is set up to maintain leads better than Saints teams of the past.

Hoping to make a statement to protest the NFL team's abysmal record -- this season and since the team returned in 1999 -- some Browns backers are encouraging fans to walk in late to the Nov. 16 home game against Baltimore.

Two longtime season-ticket holders came up with the idea after last Sunday's 31-3 loss to Green Bay.

They are hoping the temporarily empty seats for a nationally televised Monday night game will send a message to owner Randy Lerner that they want a better product on the field.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reported Sunday that Texans tight end Owen Daniels had torn an ACL in his knee.

Though the Texans initially tried to project a hint of optimism, they've now confirmed that, indeed, Daniels is done.

"O.D. tore his ACL," coach Gary Kubiak said Monday in comments distributed by the team. "I visited here with him about an hour ago, before he left. They're going to let the swelling go down over the course of the next 10-12 days and then schedule surgery, so surgery will probably be in about two weeks.

"Obviously, he's done for the season and [that's] a big blow to our football team. I just feel bad for him. Boy, he was having a tremendous season -- a special football season and we're going to miss him big time. He'll get well. He'll be back. He's a worker. He'll be back better than ever."

When he returns he'll be a restricted free agent, absent an unlikely (at this point) extension to the CBA. And the Texans likely will require Daniels to demonstrate his health before signing the fourth-year tight end to a long-term deal.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reported Sunday that Texans tight end Owen Daniels had torn an ACL in his knee.

Though the Texans initially tried to project a hint of optimism, they've now confirmed that, indeed, Daniels is done.

"O.D. tore his ACL," coach Gary Kubiak said Monday in comments distributed by the team. "I visited here with him about an hour ago, before he left. They're going to let the swelling go down over the course of the next 10-12 days and then schedule surgery, so surgery will probably be in about two weeks.

"Obviously, he's done for the season and [that's] a big blow to our football team. I just feel bad for him. Boy, he was having a tremendous season -- a special football season and we're going to miss him big time. He'll get well. He'll be back. He's a worker. He'll be back better than ever."

When he returns he'll be a restricted free agent, absent an unlikely (at this point) extension to the CBA. And the Texans likely will require Daniels to demonstrate his health before signing the fourth-year tight end to a long-term deal.

A league source tells us that the Seattle Seahawks have released running back Edgerrin James.

James, an 11-year veteran, spent seven years with the Colts before signing with the Cardinals as a free agent in 2006. He asked to be released after losing his starting job during the 2008 season, but the Cardinals kept him around. Ultimately, he was re-installed as the starter for the team's inspiring playoff run.

The Cardinals continued to squat on his rights through the draft, during which they picked Ohio State running back Beanie Wells with the 31st selection in round one.

James drew mild interest before landing in Seattle during the latter portion of August. He rushed for 125 yards on 46 carries, an average of only 2.7 yards per attempt.

Still, his performance was sufficient to pass Marcus Allen on the all-time rushing list. Currently, James is at No. 10, 33 yards behind Marshall Faulk.

Since the trading deadline has passed, James will be required to pass through waivers. He has a base salary of $1 million. If unclaimed, he'll be entitled to collect the balance of base pay ($529,000) as termination pay.

It remains to be seen whether James, a very strong candidate for induction into the Hall of Fame, lands with another team this year.

In a column for Yahoo! Sports called "Direct Snap" (which apparently is the Internet version of the Wildcat formation), Jason Cole buries the lead.

All the way to the bottom of the column.

Cole reports that the Raiders are cooperating with the league's investigation regarding coach Tom Cable because owner Al Davis wants to fire Cable after the season "with cause." This would permit the Raiders to refrain from paying Cable beyond the current season.

Frankly, we think Davis already has enough ammunition to fire Cable "with cause." (And not just "'cause" he's a bad coach.) In an August meeting with four of his subordinate employees, one of them left the room with a broken jaw. In most American workplaces, the guy who laid hands on the guy who fractured his face gets fired "with cause," even if the injury was technically an accident and even if there were no criminal charges filed or pursued.

Receiver Javon Walker doesn't want to play for the Raiders any longer.

Hell, we'd forgotten that he still does.

Per Steve Corkran of the Oakland Tribune, Walker thinks he can still be a productive player.

He can't do it from the sidelines, however.

"[I]t's not that I can't play," Walker said earlier this week. "I can play. From everyone who sees me at practice, I still got it going on."

Walker hasn't played because the Raiders have opted to go younger at receiver. And coach Tom Cable seems to want to keep Walker around.

"If you get an injury here, an injury there, then he's the next guy," Cable said of Walker. "That has kind of been his role in this whole thing."

Last month, Walker said he'd accept a trade. He generally has been disregarded this year, perhaps because of that mystery operation in an undisclosed location.

Walker's desire to be dumped occurs after Walker accepted in late February a significantly reduced contract in order to stay with the team. If he'd merely said "no," his present wish would have been granted months ago.

But even if his wish is granted now, we're not sure anyone else will want him. He has had only two solid showings in eight NFL seasons, and he simply hasn't been the same since the night of Darrent Williams' murder.